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Related Concept Videos

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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
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Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
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Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
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The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
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Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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CNG channel structure, function, and gating: a tale of conformational flexibility.

Luisa Maria Rosaria Napolitano1, Vincent Torre2,3,4, Arin Marchesi5

  • 1Structural Biology Laboratory, Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.

Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|August 6, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels translate chemical signals into electrical ones. Recent structures reveal how their gating mechanism links to ion flow and voltage sensitivity.

Keywords:
CNG channelsGatingIon channel evolutionIon channel structureIon permeation

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are crucial for signal transduction in sensory systems.
  • They convert chemical signals (cyclic nucleotides) into electrical signals.
  • CNG channels differ significantly from voltage-gated potassium channels in ion selectivity and voltage sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of CNG channel gating mechanisms.
  • To explore the interplay between gating, ion permeation, and voltage modulation.
  • To highlight recent structural insights into CNG channel activation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of high-resolution structural data of intact CNG channels.
  • Analysis of existing literature on CNG channel function and gating.
  • Integration of structural and functional data to explain gating mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Recent high-resolution structures have advanced understanding of CNG channel activation.
  • The gating mechanism is deeply intertwined with ion permeation and voltage modulation.
  • Structural evidence demonstrates the coupling between pore flexibility, gating, and voltage effects.

Conclusions:

  • Structural biology has provided key insights into CNG channel gating.
  • The gating of CNG channels is a complex process influenced by ion permeation and membrane voltage.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for comprehending sensory transduction.